Recalls this week: Baby seats, machetes, mats

Tuesday

Aug 21, 2012 at 3:15 AM

Bsz-djtBy The Associated Press

Consumer product recalls this week include millions of baby seats that are in need of repair after they proved to be too easy to escape. A line of heated pet mats also was recalled because of a shock hazard.

Here's a more detailed look at this week's products:

BABY SEATS

DETAILS: Free repair kits needed for Bumbo Baby Seats constructed of a single piece of molded foam with leg holes and a seat back that wraps completely around the child. The word "Bumbo"with an image of an elephant on top is on the front of the seat in raised lettering. The bottom of the seat has the following words: "Manufactured by Bumbo South Africa Material: Polyurethane World Patent No. PCT: ZA/1999/00030." The back of the seat has several warnings and seats manufactured since 2008 have an additional label on the front of the seat warning against use on raised surfaces. They were sold nationwide from August 2003 through August 2012.

WHY: Babies can wiggle out or fall out of the floor seats.

INCIDENTS: 50 incidents after an October 2007 recall in which babies fell while the seat was being used on a raised surface. Nineteen of those incidents included reports of skull fractures. There were an additional 34 post-recall reports of infants who fell out or maneuvered out of a seat used on the floor or at an unknown elevation, resulting in injury. Two of these incidents involved reports of skull fractures, while others reported bumps, bruises and other minor injuries.

HOW MANY: About 4 million in the U.S. In October of 2007, 1 million seats were recalled to provide additional warnings.

FOR MORE: Order the free repair kit by calling 866-898-4999 or visiting www.recall.BumboUSA.com

SNAP BRACELETS

DETAILS: Animal Snap Bracelets imported by Toysmith of Sumner, Wash. And sold from Sept. 2011 to Feb. 2012. The bracelets come in assorted metallic fabrics with animal figures including a seahorse, frog, snake, starfish, crab, lizard, dolphin and fish. The manufacturing date codes, Toysmith name and address are printed on a sewn-in label found on the inside of the bracelet. A round paper tag is attached to the product with the product name, Toysmith information, SKU number and bar code.

WHY: The metal snap band can wear through the fabric covering, resulting in exposing sharp edges and posing a laceration hazard.

INCIDENTS: Eight reports of injuries including lacerations.

HOW MANY: About 89,500

FOR MORE: Call 800-356-0474 or visit http://www.toysmith.com

DIGITAL CAMERAS

DETAILS: EOS Rebel T4i Digital SLR Cameras imported by Canon U.S.A., Inc. of Lake Success, N.Y. and sold between June and July 2012. The digital camera has a 12-digit serial number printed on the bottom of the product. The Canon logo and the model name are printed on the front of the camera.

WHY: A chemical used in the camera's rubber grips can result in a reaction that changes the grips from black to white, posing a risk of skin irritation to the consumer.

INCIDENTS: One report of a consumer who developed a minor rash after contact with a surface where the camera had been.

HOW MANY: About 68,200

FOR MORE: Call 855-902-3277 or visit http://www.usa.canon.com

MACHETES

DETAILS: Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machetes imported by Gerber Legendary Blades of Portland, Ore. They were sold at sporting goods stores nationwide and online from January 2011 through June 2012. The curved blade machete has an overall length of 19.5 inches and a blade length of 13.5 inches. The handle is a dark gray textured rubber grip with wrist lanyard, orange trim and a "BG" on it. The blade is marked with the "GERBER" trademark and a Bear Grylls trademark. It comes in a black nylon sheath with orange and gray trim. The machetes were sold separately or as one of the products in Gerber's Apocalypse Survival Kit.

WHY: A weakness in the area where the handle meets the blade can cause the handle or the blade to break during use, posing a laceration hazard to the consumer.

INCIDENTS: 24 reports of breakages, including one report of a laceration injury in Canada that did not involve stitches.

HOW MANY: About 119,000.

FOR MORE: Call 877-314-9130 or visit http://www.gerbergear.com

CEILING FANS

DETAILS: Emerson Corsair Ceiling Fans imported by Air Comfort Products, a division of Emerson Electric Co., of St. Louis, Mo. They were sold from Jan. 2009 through June 2012. The Emerson "Corsair" model ceiling fans have two blades and 44- or 52-inch blade spans. The fans were sold in two finishes, oil-rubbed bronze and antique pewter.

WHY: The ceiling fan's hanger bracket can spread apart due to heat from the motor and/or out-of-balance operation, causing the fan to fall from the ceiling.

INCIDENTS: Three reports of the fans falling from the ceiling. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 870

FOR MORE: Call 866-994-8759 or visit http://www.emersonfans.com

HEATED MATS FOR PETS

DETAILS: GSI electronic 50-watt indoor pet heating comfort pad mats with model number GKC2G002. They were sold exclusively www.amazon.com from July 2011 through March 2012.

WHY: The mats have poor wiring and construction, posing a fire and electrical shock hazard.

INCIDENTS: Two reports of the mats catching on fire, including property damage. One fire involved the asphyxiation death of a dog.

HOW MANY: About 25

FOR MORE: Call 888-941-5079 or e-mail gsiamazon(at)gmail.com

CLOTH CRIB FRINGE

DETAILS: A narrow fabric strip connecting several individual fabric triangles made by Babylicious Products Inc. It is designed to be attached to the side rail of a crib or along window valences or curtain rods. The product was sold in a variety of colors and patterns and with two fringes in each package.

DETAILS: Bedboard Bunk Beds imported by PBteen, a unit of Williams-Sonoma Inc. The wooden bunk beds with beadboard paneling have an upper bunk accessible by a four-step ladder. It is designed a twin mattress and the lower bunk for a full-size mattress. They were sold at PBteen.com and through the PBteen catalog nationwide from January 2008 to April 2009 for the Sun Valley white and Sun Valley honey models, and October 2011 to February 2012 for the dark espresso, chestnut and white models.

WHY: The front upper horizontal panel on the bunk beds can crack or break, posing a risk of injury.

INCIDENTS: 13 reports of panels that have cracked or broken, but no injuries.